The Washington critic., 1887-08-30
MRS. GILBERT'S SKELETON.


Mrs. Gilbert drew long breath OF
comfort and content, as she stepped ort
OF the door of the parsonage onto the
vine trellised porch and looked up and
down the village street, half slumbGr.
ing In the soothing sunshine Of an after.
noon In early June. She stopped
moment to breathe in the fresh, de.
licious air, that seemed to cheer and
purify the heart, as well as to invigor.
ate the lungs. Then she trippei
lightly down the steps, glanclng smil
ingly at the roses and violets blooming
on each side of the walk. After she
went out Of the gate, she half turned
and looked back at the house, and with
tender little mott on, threw kiss to
her husband, who stood at the window
watching her as she went up
the street in and out of the
shadows that lined the walk.
As soon as she was out of sight he re
turned to his study, with keen sense
of happiness and content with himself
and his surroundings. The breeze
rustled the sheets of paper, as he sat
down to his half finished sermon. Tue
hum of the bees and the melliilueut
wild irrational song of the cat bird
floated into the window. When he
bent over the table and tried to com
pose his thoughts the vision of his
wife's trim little figure walking up the
street still filtered and vibrated before
his eyes.
Mrs. Gilbert's mood was q happy
one that afternoon. 1t was so electri
ying to breathe the fragrant air, and
the old village seemed 50 calm, like
an old man Of wise and virtuous life,
enjoying nap after dinner. Aud the
sight of her husband looking after her
so eagerly, when he thought she would
not see him, had given the last perfect.
ing touch to her calm happiness of
mind. The little cottage. with Its
vine covered porch aud picturesque
gables, surrounded by The little stretch
of lawn and few trees, had never
looked SO beautiful to her. She felt 1t
was her home; that there with him she
was safe and happy.
Mrs. Gilbert crossed the shady park
In the centre of the village, in which
stood the old court house, and passed
few stores on the street beyond, She
expected to make some calls on the
other side of the village. Beyond the
stores ou the corner was the tavern !"
In front of 1t n number of men lounged
in the shade, most of them In chairs
which were tipped back against the
building. Mrs. Gilbert was still iu her
happy revery as she passed them. A
voice from the little group caught her
ear. She glanced up aifrightedly; then
she hurried on, her face pale and her
heart In her throat. Where had he
come from? she asked herself; why
had he come here? She walked on
faster and faster; the joyousness had
suddenly fled from her face aud her
heart. She passed Mrs. Sanburn's,
where she had intended to stop, but
che did not see the house; she saw
nothing but that face. and heard moth
ing but that voice.
On the very outskirts OF the village
Mrs. Gilbert came to herself Snt
stopped q moment and tried TO thinb
calmly and collecledly. No. no, h,
could not have seen her; he could moi
have known her as she was now. 4
seemed so long ago, and yet 1t was no
so long in years. Then the fierce
thought burst upon her: "What is Ii,
doing herep He is up 10 no good "
She turned to the right and started
on her way home through another
street. She at last gained complet,
mastery over herself, aud she shut hel
lips with determined air. She fel
strong in her consciousness Of havin.
really wronged no one, but the mex
moment she shudhered at the pOwe
which this man held in his hands t.
shnrler her happiness-no, 1t was no
SO much her own happiness that sh,
thought of as his, her husband 3
Then again the question hovereC
thicareningly over her mind, had h,
seen her? What was he here for?
AT last she reached home, weak ant
trembling. She opened The door softly
so as not to disturb Mr. Gilbert, and RAJ
quickly upstairs. She threw hersel
upon the bed md buried her face it
her hands, and her form shook will
suhs, though she made no sound. a
length she fell asleep. When sh
awOke with start 1t seemed as II sh
had been asleep for hours, though II
reality only II few minutes had passed
For u time she sat daled; then the son
of the birds and the breeze gently toy
ing with the curtains stirred for an IN
slant The happy peaceful feeling whic
had filled her heart early in the after
noon. But it died out in an instant an
she remembered all thar had passed,
Al supper Mr., Gilbert said;
"Whai is the matter, dear? Are yO
tired TO night? You looked so swe,
and happy when you started out 4,
day. I'm afraid you walked to
much
"Yos, guess so, >" replied Mrs. Gl
bert, without looking mp. "l'yr
headache. guess | won't so down I
prnycr.meeiing 10 might. Do yo
carrY'
why, Of course not; hut don
like to leave you here all alone, dear,
Evening came down soft aud SLOWLY
The air was full of the fragranGn Of III
dawuing summer; the twilight "
soothing. Mrs Gilbert sat down Il
tie front step after her hu-bm
stated for church, How bitterly MI
regretted thai she had never told hi
ali Of her past life! She had not co,
crnl,d anything for her own sake, bl
for his. Size had thought the old III
was dead and she did not wish 10 ca
shadow ON his happiness by bringiu
up the ghosts Of things that had baut
but were not now. She md Al way
believed thul she had done riGhI uul
now, and now she was heart sick
the thought of what might be Mr
Gilherl sat there long time, thlnki1